HSO Delivers Impressive Program Of Surprises For Season’s Final Masterworks

Mahler’s fourth symphony is larger than life, and it was the centerpiece not only of this program, but of the entire season, as the Hartford Symphony Orchestra began four days of performances Thursday, May 28, capping its 2014-2015 Masterworks Series in the Belding Theater at the Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts.

This program, led by Music Director and Conductor Carolyn Kuan, featured a programming design both effective and filled with insightful surprises. The concert began with an empty stage, just a handful of stands extending from either side of the conducting podium like pawns on one side of a chessboard. Brass and percussion entered, and the ensemble performed Aaron Copland’s “Fanfare for the Common Man” while standing. Standing loosened up the sound and brought the brass forward. The sound projected beautifully into the hall.

This was followed by the world premiere of an original commission by and for the HSO called “Fanfare for the Hartford Woman” by Christopher LaRosa. The work used the same ensemble as the Copland but with extended percussion. LaRosa’s music was charismatic, well scored and positively received.

To close the first half of the program, the HSO’s principal trombonist Brian Diehl joined the orchestra as soloist in “Harvest: Concerto for Trombone” by John Mackey. Mackey’s concerto is scored for winds, brass, percussion, harp, four basses and piano. The music developed its musical material in clever ways, and its dancing energy was impeccable. Diehl blew the audience back with accuracy, swing and very soulful playing.

It was pleasing in itself to hear this exploration of wind, brass and percussion during the first half of the program. But at the opening of Mahler’s Fourth Symphony after intermission, another surprise became clear. The symphony has an iconic opening, featuring sleigh bells and winds that linked to the sound world we heard during on the first half of the program. Then something we had not heard all night: the orchestral strings!

Kuan’s programming made the sound of the string orchestra fresh at the perfect time. Mahler’s Fourth Symphony is scored for a large orchestra, but without low brass (no trombones or tuba). Since we heard them featured earlier in the evening we were aware of their sound, and were now aware of their absence. In this symphony about a child’s view of heaven, absence also is important: it was brilliant.

Performing Mahler’s fourth symphony is a gutsy move. There are many possibilities for its interpretation. Mahler was a significant and talented conductor, and he used these insights in the construction of his symphonies, providing very detailed markings and very specific verbal notes to conductors.

Despite these clear intentions, many conductors take the work as a series of delights and sunny, clear blue skies. Not Kuan, and the performance benefited from intensities and sharp edges throughout the first and second movements. The orchestral sound was fabulous, and balances revealed how various lines entwine, develop and change. An appealing sense of strangeness was maintained. Kuan took the third movement on the brisk side but was able to stretch its long lines and direct its energy toward innocence with conviction.

Instead of culminating with a huge choral finale, as did Beethoven in his Ninth Symphony, Mahler’s Fourth Symphony ends with a brief orchestral song for a soprano who relates a child’s view of heaven. Mahler asked that the song be delivered “with childlike and serene expression.” Soprano Jamilyn Manning-White caught the right sound for this tricky and deceptively demanding moment.

This performance was a significant accomplishment for the orchestra and for Kuan, who brought us an evening of riches cast in amazingly rich sonic colors.

HARTFORD SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA’s performances of Mahler’s Fourth Symphony continue through Sunday: 8 p.m. Friday, May 29 and Saturday, May 30, and 3 p.m. Sunday, May 31. For tickets: hartfordsymphony.org or 860-987-5900. The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts is at 166 Capitol Ave., Hartford.